Romans 15

When Christians have sat by the rivers weeping, the Word has dropped as honey, and sweetly revived them. A Christian's chief comfort is drawn out of these wells of salvation; (Romans 15:4) that we through comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. When a poor soul has been ready…

4. They do voluntarily murder their souls, who suck in false prejudices against religion; as if religion were too strict and severe; they that espouse holiness must live a melancholy life, like hermits and anchorites, and drown all their joy in tears. This is a slander which the…

An unbeliever will stick at no sin, luxury, perjury, injustice. Paul was afraid of none so much as them that did not believe (Romans 15:31). That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea.

As therefore faith is that chief work of God and the master-grace (John 6), so despair and doubting is the masterpiece of Satan. And in faith he is especially envious at the joy of our faith (Romans 15:13). And as comfort is the most proper work of the Spirit and most pleasing w…

These his examples are rules of direction to all men in the like case. Now as for the examples of men, as the examples of wicked men are every way to be eschewed, so good men's are to be followed: for, whatsoever is written, is written for our learning, Romans 15:4. And for them…

Seeing our Savior commands his disciples and so even us also to pray to God, it is our duty not only to present our prayers to God, but also to do it cheerfully and earnestly. Romans 15:30. Also brethren I beseech you that you would strive with me by prayers to God for me. What…

Answer: Though it be granted that some books of canonical Scripture are lost, yet the Scripture still remains sufficient because the matter of those books, so far as it was necessary to salvation, is contained in these books of Scripture now extant. Again, I take it to be a trut…

Whose voice, or rather the voice of Christ by him, was, I know very sweet to many there now asleep, and to some of you yet alive; who, I dare not doubt, never allow yourselves, to expect with confidence and comfort to look the Lord Jesus in the face, but as seriously and sincere…

Christ's will is heaven. Christ thinks it is best, that his Father's will stand, and his human will be repealed (Romans 15:3), for even Christ pleased not himself — to have no will of your own is the pearl in the ring, a jewel in submission. (2.) That the Lord's end is good, he…

The man never has a fair venture of heaven, nor comes into close grips with eternal love revealed till he believe, because the poor man's believing is his act of choosing God for his portion, and so cannot be an assent to a common good, general to all men, Heathens, Pagans, Jews…

And the proper duty of his place being to show mercy, he does it with cheerfulnesse, (as the Apostle speaks:) For Mercy makes one do what they do, with cheerfulnesse. And Christ, as he is the Bishop, so the [illegible], the Deacon also, (for he beares all offices to his Church)…

His righteous soul was vexed with it, as Lots righteous soul is said to have been with the impure conversation of the Sodomites. He endured the contradictions of sinners against himself, Hebrews 12:3 the reproaches of them that reproached you, (that is, upon his God,) fell upon…

And therefore do not neglect a letter written by such precious Scribes, and from the hand of a gracious God, that directed them to us; but if written to us, and for our instruction and learning, let us hear, and read, and obey, and look at them as the greatest blessings, and orn…

Secondly, besides this, this spirit helps us to pray to God with fervency, and heat of spirit, so much as that in such a case as this we strive with God in our prayers, and wrestle with him; The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much, (James 5:16). When the Spirit…

Thus doing, we suffer persecution (according to this text: 'I believed and therefore did I speak, and I was sorely troubled') with patience, being strengthened and encouraged through hope. The Scripture exhorts us with most sweet and comfortable promises taught and revealed to u…

So is the doctrine which teaches that men after their conversion, must still remain in suspense of their salvation: and that pardon of sin, is necessarily annexed to confession in the ear, and to satisfaction for the temporal punishment of sin in this life, or in purgatory. On t…

Hence we gather, the free election of God: and that they are deceived, who think, that there was no difference of Jews and Gentiles in respect of God, but in respect of themselves: because the one embraced Christ, the other refused Christ. But there cannot be a refusal, where th…

(Ephesians 2:12) they were without God, and without Christ. (Romans 15:20) Paul preached where Christ was not so much as named. Hence it follows, that the calling of men to life everlasting, is not universal: because Christ was never universally revealed.

When the Israelites had sinned, Moses stands in the breach, as it were in the face of the cannon, between the wrath of God and them, by his prayer to stay the judgment of God (Psalm 106:23). Again, the people must show their love to their teachers; first, by praying for them, as…

Toleration must tend to the good and edification of men. Rom 15:2. We must not so tolerate as that we approoue of the least vice, or betray the least part of Gods truth.

Thus the Apostle commands, that we should beare with the infirmities of those that areweake, and not sufficiently catechized in the doctrine of our spirituall libertie purchased to vs by Christ, and not to please our selues too much, but rather to please our neighbour in that wh…

But in this sense all Paul's Epistles may be called Catholic Epistles. For whatever is written, is written for our learning, that we through patience and consolation of the Scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4). Secondly, the word Catholic, is not so ancient: for Pacianus an…

The Prophet in this song addresses himself in general to all the people, even as if he spoke to one man, for it was requisite they should be joined together as if they had been but one. According to this example, our conjunction ought to be so close that there should be but one…

To conclude, the Prophets describe not this service in such wise as it should be after Christ his coming; but such as it was in their own times: the reason is: because it was needful for them to apply themselves to the capacity of the people whom they taught. Hence we may gather…

Although we be well instructed in God's word then, and have learned that he will surely help us in the day of trouble, yet when some extraordinary surge or wave arises, it is all the need then to get us to the mouth of the Lord again and again, and still to seek out new confirma…

The covenant was confirmed then only in Abraham's seed, that is to say in Christ: at whose coming it was confirmed, and established by effect, though it was done before in regard of the promise. Therefore it is that Paul says, All the promises of God are Yes, and Amen in Christ…

The preaching of the gospel therefore manifested those things which neither the eye had seen, nor the ear heard of before: as also in regard the publishing of this doctrine came to Kings and nations far off, even to the ends of the world. Saint Paul alleges this text, and shows…

But also we ought diligently to note what this kind of Priesthood is: for we must no more offer to God any brute beasts; but reasonable men must now be offered and sacrificed to the obedience of Christ. According to which Saint Paul says, that he offered up the Gentiles by the s…

But it was requisite that the Prophets should borrow similitudes from things then commonly in use; as we have often said. Under the Law, they offered brute beasts: but the Apostles and other Priests of Christ have sacrificed reasonable men: and have offered them living sacrifice…

33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob As salvation was promised, in a peculiar manner, to the Jews, (the covenant having been made with their father Abraham, Genesis 17:7,) and Christ, as Paul informs us, "was a minister of the circumcision," (Romans 15:8,) the angel pr…

There is propriety in the distinction here made between the people Israel and the Gentiles: for by the right of adoption the children of Abraham “were nigh” (Ephesians 2:17) to God, while the Gentiles, with whom God had made no “covenants of promise,” were “strangers” to the Chu…

We must attend to what Paul says, "that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers," (Romans 15:8) with which agrees that saying of Christ, "Salvation is of the Jews," (John 4:22.)

The reason is, that he had been sent by the Father to be the minister of circumcision, to fulfill the promises, which had anciently been given to the fathers, (Romans 15:8.) Now God had entered into a special covenant with the family of Abraham, and therefore Christ acted proper…

The reason is, that every one would desire to have advocates, who would defend his cause. That we may not depend on the favor of men, Christ bids us look up to the judgment of his Father, who is the God of peace, (Romans 15:33) and who accounts us his children, while we cultivat…

and again says that we ought not to please ourselves, (Romans 15:1.) To hang a millstone about a man's neck, and drown him in the sea, was the punishment then reckoned the most appalling, and which was inflicted on the most atrocious malefactors.

Though in this passage Christ teaches nothing more than that he ought patiently to suffer death, because the Scriptures have declared that it must be so, yet the use of this doctrine is evidently more extensive, namely, that Scripture is a sufficient bridle for subduing the rebe…

The Spirit of the Lord is not straitned; compared with Isa. 40. 28. The Power of the Spirit of God; Rom. 15. 19. Prescience, Acts 1. 16.

Nor did he perform any Act of his Sacerdotal Office but only at his Death, when he gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour, Ephes. 5. 2. wherein God smelt a Savour of Rest and was appeased towards us. But the whole course of his Life an…

Section 5. The intercession of Christ, his second sacerdotal act, has the same end and is effectual to the same purpose — he intercedes with God for the pardon of sin by virtue of his oblation, being our advocate with God (1 John 2:1-2); but he also intercedes for grace and supp…

How many (who have learned not to make light of the love of God as the most do) who reckon in his favour is life, to whom it is not an indifferent thing whether they be accepted or no; who cannot be overly in their enquiry, nor trifle with matters of everlasting consequence, who…

He has either (1.) Strengthened your back to bear, or (2.) Lightened your burden, or (3.) Opened an unexpected door of escape, according to that Promise, 1 Corinthians 10:13 so that the evil which you feared, came not upon you. You read, that the Word of God is the only support…

Sometimes also a Christian is so engaged in prayer for the obtaining of a mercy, and finds his heart so much below his suit, that he calls out to all those, who have any holy skill in praying, pray for me, pray with me, the business is too big for me alone. How earnestly does Pa…

Dauid prayed seuen times a day, and rose up at midnight to give thankes to God, Psal. 119. 164. 62. And Paul wills the Romans that they would striue or wrestle with him by prayer to God, Rom. 15. 30. All these are worthie examples unto us; and if we compare our selues with them…

2. It shows that believers act and exercise their graces for others' edification, as a fountain that in some way is common for the use of more Gardens, and so it points out what public spirits they should have, intending the edification of all to whom they can conveniently commu…

To send out faith as a spy to view the heavenly Canaan, and pluck a bunch of grapes there — what delight is here? "Joy in believing" (Romans 15:13). To love God (in whom all excellencies are combined) — how sweet is it!

And, oh that I might study those instructing clouds, from which, as from the bottles of heaven, God pours down refreshing showers to quench and satisfy the thirsty earth! In this may I resemble them, and come among the people of the Lord, in the fullness of the blessing of the G…

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven. Romans 15:9. I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy Name.

Secondly, meekness teaches and enables us patiently to bear the anger of others, which instance of meekness we have especially occasion for, in reference to our superiors and equals; commonly that which provokes anger is anger, as fire kindles fire; now meekness prevents that vi…

It is a branch of that wisdom, which he that lacks must ask of God, and it shall be given him (James 1:5). The God we address to is called, the God of patience and consolation (Romans 15:5), and he is therefore the God of consolation, because the God of patience (for the more pa…

Tenthly, it appears there are great things for the people of God hereafter, because of the great hopes that are wrought in the hearts of Gods servants, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Now surely such hopes as are wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost, they must attain unto glor…